Grading and distributing machine



' Dec. V11, 192s.

'L. A. COGSWELL GRADING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE heets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 51,

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Dec. ll, 1928.

L. A. COGSWELL GRADING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE qn.. @i .w wm. mK r .m l Vlnllmk .U v 7 m Nw w am 4 f In 4. Sm 3 MV .i 1 .r 4 NR @QQ www; 1. N.&%\ NQ a R W $4.44.. .1.524494 e m MH m @EMI mwelz@ Q n w wm m M v mw .W ,WN w@ mw mm k. Q

Dec. l1, 1928.

L. A. COGSWELL GRADING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed March l. 1924 l4 Sheds-Sheet 4 @mezz rz 2v?. weZZ,

Patented Decn ll, i928.

naires stares:

'Lnannnn a. coser-Jann, or iliancnnsrne, new Harassment .assren'on ronacnnn p linlinenacre-sins COMPANY, or Manci-insana, navrant/iraniana conico:aa-v

` TON Ol? MANE.

Giannina Ann nisrntnnfrrns niacin-inn,

Application lcd March 31,' 1924;, Serial NoeZOBSl. Renewed March 7, 1928K.

ggrade detection.y for vgrading the stock, as byl evening or skivingl` stamping or marking, indicating,,sorting` or distributing', or performing all or any number f such grading operations. p

A The present invention has to do more particularly with sorting' or distributing, and

constitutes an improvement upon or modific4 on of the invention described in an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me August 20, 1921, Serial No. Q4-,009., for an automatic top lift grading and dist-ributing` machine. ,K y

ln the accompanying drawings,-

Fig'. 1 is side elevation of an evening` and distributing.machine embodying my invention;

Fia'. 2 is an elevation of thedelivery end of the machine;

Fi 3 andlt are details of the spring' draw bar through which the distributing chute is actuated hereinafter described; Y

Fig'. 5 is a section in plan on line r-of 6 is a partial, vertical, central, longitudinal section of the machine;

7 is a plan view ofthe distributor locking; bolt hereinafter described; and

' Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the lever or shoe by which the distributor locking' bolt is operated by the blanks passing through the niaonine.

The, hopper or magazine 1 for holdingv stack of top lifts or other blanks of stock comprises uprights 3 and l adjustably mount-V ed on a. bracket- 5 which serves as the bottom of the hopper and supports the stack of lifts in position between the uprights. During the operation of the machine a blank after leaving;` the eveningv mechanism at the delivery end of the machine (the right hand end viewed in Fig, l) effects a swinging movement of an arm 6 which isv fast on rock shaft 7. This results in a* single reciprocatory movement being,` imparted to afeedV slide 8 mounted in ways on the bracket 5. l A pawl nism at rest.

9 on slide 8 engages the rear edge of the lowerinost blank 2 in the stack when the. slide 8 is vioved totheleft, and feeds thebl'ankfor-`A ward betweenlthe detecting lrolls'1() vand'lll when the slide 8' is moved tothe right.I y

The mechanism by which the outgoingblank at the delivery end of the machinev actuates the feeding,r mechanism includes the rock shaft .7 upon which is fixed the arm 6 and also an arm-13 outside of the frame; .Arm 13 is connected by a link 14k with a latch lever 15 fulcrumed at 16 on theframe of the ma`- chine', and cooperating; with a stud 17 ona clutch controlling arm 18, 'The clutch controlling arm 18, link 14 and latchlever 15 are all yieldingly urgedtoward therleft by` springs, not shown. -The clutch mechanism is substantiallysimilar to that shown in my said application Serial No. 494,009; Nor- 'l mallyv the clutch controlling,` arm 18 is held 'by its spring` ina position to hold the clutch disengaged and maintain'the feeding mechai When, however, a. blank leaves the delivery rolls 90, 91 the rotation of roll 91 acting` through acam (as hereinafter described) act-nate the arm 6 andthe connections Vjust described to swing'the clutch lever 18, thereby engaging' the clutch and connectingc the feeding mechanism to thecontinu-k ously rotating` shaft 20 ofthe lower detector Y roll 10 during one revolution thereof, at the end of which the clutch arm 18, which was only momentarily displaced by the outgoing; y

blanln'automatically disengages the clutch and/so disconnects the feeding' mechanism from. the shaft'. on shaft 2,0, and the other ,clutch memberisv the end or face ofa 'gear 19 which loosely and slidably mountedv on shaft 2O.KV When nect it to the fixed clutch member on shaft 20, it actsthrough intermediatege'ar 21Qto drive 22 on ashort shaft 23 see Fig'. which carries'a cam 24 and a-crank arm125.

The crank arm 25 is'connected by alink 26- @ne clutch Lmember isr fast l V y this gear is shifted by vclutch lever 18 to con*v 95 i,

'Shaft 2O is mounted inimmovable bearings "on the frame and is driven by a continuously1 actuated 'feed chain 30 by ywhich the blanks Vare transported from the. detector rolls 1() and 11 oi the skiving mechanism. The

chain 3() runs on a sprocket wheel 31 last` Von the shaft at the middle thereoi,

and a sprocket wheel 32 fast onfthe mid-y dle oil shaft near the delivery end or trie machine. `The shaft 33 carries a gear 34 .which is outsideof the .machine frame andv is driven 'through suitable intermediate gear 7 ing,r sprockets and chain (not shown) from`V a gear 35 fast on the main driving shait36.V

VThis mainshait 36 extends transversely through the machine and isfvprovided with Vthe usual tight and loose pulleys, not shown.

Drivinfr shaft 36 also has fasten the end l o opposite to gea-n a gear 37 which meshes with and drives a gear 38 Jfast on shaft 39 of the lower feeding roll 40 of the skiving or evening mechanism. The-upper i'eeding 1' roll 41 of the skiving vor evening mechanism has a Gear 43 on its shalt 42. Gear 43 is driven through an intermediate gear 44 by s j Vgear35 on the main drive shaft 36, the gears l 43 an'df44 being relatively so disposed as to 43with roll 41. v The skiving mechanism includesA a fixedv permit alimited verticall movement of gear knife 45, preferably oi' the single bevel type c as shown, fastenedrigidlyto the frame of the machine with its cutting edge close to the normal line of Contact bet-Ween the two rolls` 40 and 41 and at the delivery'side of the late" ter so as-to operate upon each blank as it Thelower skivingroll 40 is journaled in bearingblocks 46 which slide inlvertical' wai s Y 47 on the frame V28V of them-schine. y These bearingblocks are mounted on a bridge piece or yoke 48 which is supported by two massive i springs 49, 49..Y Springs 49 are seated on aV cross bar 50 which forms part of the machine frame. v i -J ust outsideof each spring 49 is a rodl 51 Y vfastened at its yupper end to bridge piece 48, the lower end of each rod extending loosely through cross'barY 50 and'carrying nuts 52A which engage the under side of the cross bar to. limit the upward movement oi the lower 'roll 40 and thereby determine its normal position` withrelation to the cutting blade 45.

The upper skiving roll 41 is journaled vin bearing blocks 53 mounted in the ways 47 on `the frame 28. The blocks normally rest on blocks 46. On the topf side oit each bearing block 53 there is iixed a hardened'steel cam or wedge member 54whose upper side is inclined and stepped asusual inthe Nichols machines. These two stepped wedge meine bers cooperate with two similar inverted the frame loit the machine.

stepped wedge members 55 fastened `to the under side of theslide bar 56mountedon the cioss head of the machine frame slide'V transversely of the machine. One side oii'bar `56 is made as a rack as in niysaid licuiiier application, whose teeth mesh with a pinion.

fast on the upper end of an upright she-.it 59 journaled in bearings on ,traine 23.

ifo rmi ng frame. V The opposite arm olf lever 62 ispron vided at its extremity with a segii'ient 64 ci ratchet teeth facing in one diiection, and also with another segment 65 of ratchet teeth on the underside of lever 62 and facing in the opposite direction. These two sets oit' ratchet teeth 64 and 65 cooperate respectively with two spring pressed locking pawls or latches 66 and 67, the former sliding in ways on the frame of the machine andthe latter being pivoted on the frame. Lever 62 has another arm 62 which is connected by an ustable link 63 to vthe lower end citan arm 69, which is ifa'st at its upper end to atrans verse rock shaft EO journaled in bearingsfon the iframe ci the machine.

When a heel lift or'otlier blanlis lied from the machinel toward the 1() and 11, it is pushed under a pivoted gate 71 connected by alinl: 72 to one arm oi" abellcrank lever 73 ulcrumed on the ne of the machine. The other arm oi'illever actuates the locking latch 66, throufrh al pin extending t from the side of the latcn andl retracts the latch from ratchet 64 on lever 62, thus ireeing theV slide bar 56 from latch rlhis unlocking action through the lifting of the gate 71 occurs during the single rotation imparted to the transverse 'shaitl by which the feed are journal'ed in a ,vertically slidingbridge piece 76 mounted in vertical slideways on Each time the yoke lever 7 4 is actuated the upper detector roll 11 is lii'tedvby the arms 75 to adm't the blank beingfed. Pivoted to the slide two llinks 77 which extend upwardly to a pair A of arms73 'fasten rock slia't'tf@a The ends At itsV jlower end is iixed another oinioii 66 which detector rolls Y slide is operated, andat a time when the high f iso up by the chain and transported to the erad-` 'ing mechanism.

As lthe blank is fed forward into position between the detector rolls the torwardlend ot the blankengages and swings an arm 81 taston a rock shaft 82'journaled in bearingsV on the machine frame. This rock shaft also has iii-:ed to it an arm 83 connected by a link 84v with a lever 85` which normally holds the locking latch 67 yont of engagement withthe segmental rack 65 on the bottom ofthe arm fully explained in Nichols Patent 1,046,213. This swinging of armV 81 lifts the lever 85 and permits the spring 67 to raise the latch 67 into engagement with rack 65. Latch 67 thus locks lever 62 against movement in the direction corresponding to the upward movement of the detector roll 11, but leaves it `:tree to respond to any further downward movement ot said upper detector roll so long as the gate 71 is held elevated by the blank, thus holding latch l66 out ot engagement with rack 64. l

lt willrthus' be seen that after the blank has come into position between'the two .detector rolls and until the' rear' end thereof clears the gate 1, thel lever 62 is automatically controlled by the upper detector roll 11l so as to be adjusted to accord Iwith the-thinnest part'ot the blank being felt of.' This positioning ot the lever 62vcauses a simultaneous positioning ot the slide bar 56 to which it isconnected through the upright shaft 59, thereby adjusting the cam blocks or. stepped wedges 55 so as to limit the upward movement ot the stepped wedges 54 and consequently ot the upper skiving roll 41 to such position that the knife45 will reduce the lift or blank to aunitorm thickness corresponding to the thickness of the thinnestpart of the blank determined by the detector rolls.

Gate 71 is positionedl close to the upper detector roll so that practically the whole ot the blank will have been measured 'by the two I rolls 10 and 11 when the rear end ot the blank clears the gate. A spring 86 connected with an arm 87 tast on rock shaft 82 (Figs. land holds the latter and the parts fastened to it' in their normal position shown in Fig. 1.

' TWhen the rear end of the blank clears gate 71, a spring 33 (Fig. 5) restores-the latch 66 Froml the foregoing-it will be seenvthat when the blank is passing between the detector rolls, the upper detector-roll 11 is forced down on the blank by the heavyspring 805,v i

and the settingy connection between thedetector roll vv11 'and thev slide bar 56 will cause the la ter to shitttoward-the lett as viewedV in Fig. -2, as the detectorroll 11- encounters vsuccessively thinner spotsin the blank, each increment of thinness so determined by the detector roll 11 being taken' up and retained by the latch andprack 67 and 65. ,In case the detect-or roll 11V encounters thicker spots in the blank being telt of, the detector roll 11 will riseidly onv account yot the pin and slot connection between'arm 78 and links 77.

As the blank is moved vforward from' the Vdetector rolls and 11 by the feed chain 307 it passes under a spring-pressedshoey89 which holds itV firmly against the feed chain and also serves another'purpose that will presently appear. As the forward 'end of the blank enters between the continuously driven rolls 40 and 41 of the skivingm-echarism, the upper roll 41 is lifted until the'two stepped wedges 54 onzthe top ofthe journal boxes 53`seatl themselves against the stepped wedges 55 on slide bar 56.' rlhis fixes the distance between vthe roll 41 andv the cutting blade 45 and consequently thevthickness to which the blank will be 'evened or skived corresponding .to the thickness ofthe thinnest spot vofthe blank. Lower roll 40 yields downwardly to" accommodate the thicker parts ofthe blank.

'Upon emerging no Y . 1001 from the skiving mecha- 5 vmsm the blank enters between the two delivery rolls and 9.1 which ejectithe blank from the skiving mechanism and deliverit'to the distributing or 4 sorting mechanism.` y 'The lower roll 90 is tast on shaft 92 journaled in stationary bearings on the trame ot the ma- .chine andQca-rrying at one end thereof the .pinion 93 that 1s continuously driven through cross bar 98 made with two holes,in-wl'iichl areloosely mounted two vertical stems 99.`

Each stem 99 is fastened at its lower end to one ofthe bearing blocks 96, and is provided at its' upper `end Lwith adjustable stop nuts 100 which engage. the cross bar- 93 and limit the downward movement oit theroll 91 under the iniluenc-e otsprings which vsurroundthe stems 9:9.'

' The 1roll 91 has hired at one end actin lor i which engages and operates arm 6. Roll 91 is normally' at rest but is rotated by the'blank. Y

' inv aV bracket 105 secured to the frame of thev the cam 101 acts througharm 6, shaft 7, link 14 and the mechanism connected with shaft 7 ai-ready described to start thenext blank on its travel through the machinefromthe mag azine 1. 'A coi-l spring 102 surrounds the shaft of the upper delivery 'roll 91, one end of the spring-being` connecte'dwith the bearingI block 96 and theother to theend of the roll; yllormally this spring under slightv stress holds the roll91 withI a'rishoulderr (not shown) aga-inst stop thus holding the cam ejectedthey are sorted or distributed in accordance lwith the'grade detection and in ac# Vcordance with the thicknesses to which 'they have been out. yThe sorting v and distributing mechanism comprises a chute 103, preferably made of light sheet metal fastened to the upper' end of a spindle'1011 that is journaled machine, the spindle resting at its lowerend against a ball-thrust bearing- 106'. Tliisspindie carriesa pinion 107 engaged by a rack bar 108 which siides transversely of the .bracket 105 and is connected Vto the lower end of a lever-109 byv means of an eXtensible and contractible spring draw-bar 110. The lever 109 is fulcrumed between itsiendsto the frame j of the machine at 111 and its upper arm is vconnected by a link 112y with theslidebar 56 so that the position of said lever varies with the adjustment of said slide bar in response to 'the'detecting mechanism.l Movement of the lever 109 with theV slide bar 56 tends toact through the centralizing spring draw-bar connection 110 and rack 108 to angularly ad,

just the distributor 103, the latter occupying a different angular position for each of the several lpossible positions of theslide bar 56 and lever-109- 'i VBoth sets of ratchet teeth on the threearn'iediever 62 through which the detecting mechanism adjusts or sets the slide bar 56 ac-V in to the thinnest portion of the incom-v k y it, areso cut that the angular distance between two teeti of either rack is proportioiiaftetov an Yadjustment of the slide bar 56 sufficient to varythe cutting,l or skivingaction to a definite extent measured in ,ironsi it follows, therefore,`that the lever 109 willv bev definitely and correspondingly,positioned angularly by the detecting` mechanism ac cordingto the thinnest spot of each blank, as

A the blank passes between the detecting rolls.

The inclined or oblique facesvof the wedge blocks and 54, owing tothesmall'scale vupon which the drawings are'made, appear L iii-Fig. 2 to be flat surfaces but, as is usual in v displa-cement.`

'the bolt'113 andthe machine frame.

the` Nichols machines, tliesefaces are stepped j so that 'each stepl represents any adjustment of the skiving and distributing mechanisms of a definite amount measured in ironsfl c At the completion'of the gauging lor detecting operation when the gate 71 drops off n the rear end ofzthe blank the latchV 66vr and spring` S0 will hold the slide 56 mid -lever y109' in their adjusted positions against.accidental` The slide and lever remain in their adjusted positions until the next blank is fedforward from the hopper at which time the cam 24 raises the upper detecting-'roll and the sliding yoke T6, which is timed to occur immediately upon the' compietion of the skiving` operationen the preceding blank and whiie the preceding blankv is passing betweenthe delivery rolls 90 and 91.- rl`his, of course,is before said preceding blank has reached the distributor chute 103. It is therefore necessary toret-ain the distributor chute 103 in' its adjusted position until after, the preceding blankb`y which the chut-e was set, has left the delivery rolls 9 0 and 91 and descended the chute, and atthe same time toV permit the detecting` mechanism co set or position thelever 62l and, in the present form of the inventiomthe'slice barf5'6 also, for the incoiniiifrblank. It is for this purpose that the centralizing spring draw-bar 110 is provided intermediate the chute andthe detect-y ing;` mechanism, said drawbarbeing herein shown as vrformingfpa-rt of the connection between the slide bar=56 and the chute.V For this reason, also, there is combined with this yielding connection, ineans'for holding the chute in the position to which it was adjusted for and by the preceding blank, notwithstand-y ing the succeeding blank has Aalreadyoperated the detectingmechanism, untilthe preceding orl out-going blank has descended the chute 103.*Y f .i f

The chuteholdingfor lockinb' means just referred to comprises a bolt 113 sliding with-V in a slot extending horizontally through the bracket'105 lengthwise of the machine. [it its inner ,end this bolt has a pin and slot connection with one arm of a lbellcrank lever 114 at its linkopposite end by the rockeshaft 82. This shoe 116 occupiesa positionin the path j Y of the blanks ascth'ey pass from the detecting mechanism vto the vskiving meehanism, and is yieldingly held up by a spring 1127Y 1between Sirf a' 117 also normally holds the shoulder 11 3 of bolt 113 in lengagement with the teeth of the Vrack 108 thus locking the chute 103 against angular movement; As a blank passesoyer the shoe 116-it is pressed and heid down by the shoe 89, thus causing the blank to depress the shoe 116 and so unlock the bolt 113 'trom the rack 108. .Thus the adjustmentotthe l chute 103 by any blank will be maintained until the next following ,blank has reached and operated the shoel 116, thereby aording ample time for the blank by which the chute was set to descend the chute. The following or incoming blank, however, will have already operated the detecting rolls so as to adjust the lever 62 and the slide bar 56 to accord with the thinnest spot of said blank while the chutewas held locked for the preceding blank. This is made possible by the yielding draw bar 110 which permits the lever 109 to swing with the slide bar 56 in either direction. The operation of setting the lever 62 and the'slide 56 for the incoming lift is started when the cam 24 of the feeding mechanism, acting Y through the lever 74, raises the upper detecting roll 11 and its slide 7 6, which momentarily shifts the slide 56 to the right (Fig. 2)

to the limit of its movement in that direction.

immediately thereafter the cam 2a lowers slide 76 and the upper detecting roll on to the forward end ofthe incoming blank resulting in a movement of the slide 56 tothe left (Fig. 2) under the stress of spring4 30, (Fig. 1). Thereafter the detecting mechanism and the setting mechanism will respond to thel thickness of the blank as already described.

The centralizing spring draw-bar 110 is of that type which is-both extensible and contractible, and whose spring 110( is compressed when the draw-bar is either extended or contracted; that is, the draw-bar comprisesvtwo parts ,overlapping-and sliding oneupon the other, each part lhavinga pair o f shoulders or abutments for the spring which surrounds both parts. (See Figs. 3 and l.) Thus whetherthe two-part bar is extended or contracted the spring will be compressed between an abutment of one part and an abutment of the other part. Said spring 110 is of less strength thanspring 80' so that whenever, during the operation of the machine, the two springs are opposed, the spring 80 will predominate.V These two springs are opposed when the slide 56 is adjusted in a direction, andunder conditions with respect to the position ofchute 103, which require lever 109 to shorten or contract draw-bar 110 While the chute is locked by bolt 113. j These conditions do not exist when during the detecting operation the gauge roll 11 is moved upwardly bythe blank, but do exist when, during said operation, the blank permits downward movement of'said roll and the chute 103 occupies ajposition requiring the lever 109 to shorten the draw-bar.- j 1 j As soon as the bolt 113 unlocksthe rack 108 the spring drawlbar, whether lengthened Vor shortened, assumes itsnormal, centralized position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with the springI 110 in its most full-y expanded posi'- tion, thereby swinging chute 103 to the angularV position corresponding to the position of Ylever 109 that is. corres Jondin' to the osition of the setting mechanism and of the skiving mechanism as determined by the blank.

Consequently it will be seen that assoon as a blank which has caused the adjustment of the slide bar 56 reaches and operates the'shoeV last measured by the detecting means', unless that blank and the preceding blank call for the same grading, in which case no movement of the chute takes place.

The chute 103 `has a possible range of swinging movement of 4about130 degrees and as herein shown' the connections between the chute and regulating slide 56 areconstructedv so that movement ofslide 56 a distance effecting an adjustment of the skiving mechanism to the extent of one iron, will shift the chute` 103 one-eighth of its .are of movement.

Therefore, the machine herein shown will n v v .Y

producev 'and sort lifts of nine different Orades. For this reason the. inion 107 is D 'made with afnumber of teeth which is a multiple of eight so that the correspondingly spaced teeth of rack 103 may be properly engaged by the bolt113l to lock the chute vin any one of its nine different positions, said chute is adjusted angular-ly one-eighth of its will accurately engage the rack 108-between two of its teeth when -thechute occupiesany one of its nine possible positions-fl Tn the accompanying drawings the machine is 'shownin 4the condition that would exist `upon exhaustion of the supplyo-flifts or j each movementrofone tooth of the rack the I range of movement. Therefore, the bolt 113 lio Y blanks from the hopper, and under this condition the shafts 92,39, 42, 33, 36 and :20, as c well as the chain 30, will run idly, if the driving'shaft is in motion, until the clutch lever '18 is manually operated, ,.Manual operation of this clutch lever after loadingithe hopper results in feed slide'S being operated which starts a blank through the machine, and since4 each blank upon being-discharged from the machine, automatically occasions a feeding movement of said slide the machine' will conhopper until the supply tinu'e to operateupon blanks ted Jfromthe within the latter is exhausted.V 1

I claim:

'-1. A machine of the class describedcom `prising grade detecting mechanism for detecting the grade ci' successive blanks of stock according-.to thickness, a movable distributorr for delivering the blanksl intodiil'erent positionsl corresponding to" their respective grades, setting mechanism including a traiisverse slide bar responsive to the detecting mechanism', distributor actuating mechanism connecting the slide bar and the distributor for adjusting the. distributor in accordance with the adjustment of the slide bar, said distributor actuating mechanism including a yielding, centralizing spring member;

i 2. A machine or the class described comprising grade detectingmechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stockfaccording to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into difierent positions correspondingto their respective grades, setting mechanism lincluding a transverse slide bar responsive to the detecting mechanism, distributor actuating mechanism lconnecting the slide bar and the distributor yfor adjusting the distributor in acs cordance with theY adjustment of the` slide bar, said distributor actuating mechanism including a yielding,centralizing spring member, a rack, and a lock controlled by the passage of the Ablank through the machine for unlocking and locking the rack and distributor.

A 'machine of the class described com# prisingA grade detecting mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock 'according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering'the blanks into diflerentpositionsY corresponding to Atheir f respective grades, setting mechanism including a transverse slide bar responsive to the detecting mechanism, vdistributor actuating mechanism connecting the slide bar and thev distributor Yfor adjusting the distributorin accordance 'with the adjustment of the slide bar, vand a lock-for Vholding' the distributor in adjusted position, said` distributor actuating mechan-ism including a ceiitralizing spring member adaptedvto permit a dieren'tadjustment of the slide bar while the distributor is lockedand Vto move the distributor'according'f to such different adjustment when the distributor is unlocked.v l i i 'i Xgl., A machine ofV the class describedcomprising grade detecting mechanism for dete'ctingthe Ygrade of successive blanks of stock according to: thickness, a movable distributor for delivering-the blanks into dif- Y ferent'rpositions corresponding to -v their ree spective grades,rsetting mechanism'including av transverse slide bar responsive to the v.detecting mechanism, and distributor actuating means operated by the slide bar com# prising a lever fulcrumed to the machine frame, a connection between the lever above its fulcruin and the slide bar, and a connection including a centralizing springmember. and a rack member between the lever below its fulcrum and the distributor. Y

5.l A machine of the class described comrisinol ycrade detecting mechanism for deL-- P ze i: o

tecting the grade of successive blanks oi`l stock accordingl to thickness, a movabley distributor for delivering the blanksinto diiiferent positions corresponding to their respec-l tive grades, `setting mechanism including :a transverse slide bar responsive to the detecting mechanism, vand distributor actuating means operated by the slidebar comprising a lever i'ulcrumed tothe machine frame, a connection between the lever above its tulcrum and the slide bar', and al connection including a centralizing spring member and a Y rack member between thelever below its fulcrum and the distributor, and-a lock controlled by the passage of the blank through the machine for unlocking and locking the distributor. l f l.

6. A machine of the class described comprising grade detecting mechanisintor de-l 7 `A machineot the class Idescribed com`-A prising grade detecting mechanism for de-` tecting the grade of successive, blanks of stock accordingtojthickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into diii'erent positions corresponding to their respective grades, setting mechanism including a transverse slide bar responsiveto thefdetecting mechanism, and distributor actuating means connecting the slide bar Vand distributor including a lever. tulcrumed tothevmachine frame, a link between the slide bar and the upper end of the lever above its ulcrum, a.` rack for moving the distributor and al centralizing spring member between 'the rack andthe lower end of the lever below itsfulcrum, a-,locking bolt adapted to engagesaid rack, and means controlled by the passage of the blank through the machine for actuating said locking bolt. y f j 'l 8. A machine'of thel class described comprising grade detecting mechanism for Vdetecting the grade of successive blanks of stock V11th according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions corresponding to Vtheir respective grades, setting mechanism including a trans' verse slide bar responsive to the detecting mechanism, distributor actuating mechanism connecting the slide bar and the distributor for adjusting the distributor' in accordance With the adjustment ot the slide bar, said dis-v tributor actuating mechanism including a centralizing spring member, and a locktor holding the distributor in adjusted position While leaving the slide bar free to to a succeeding blank. l

9. A machine of the class described comprising grade detecting mechanismV for dej tecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into diiferent positions corresponding to their respective grades, setting mechanism including a transverse slide bar responsive to the detecting mechanism, distributor actuating mechanism connectingl the slide barand the distributor for adjusting the distributor in accordance With the adjustment of the slide bar, said distributor actuating mechanisinincluding a centralizing'spring member, a lock for holding the distributor in adjusted position While leaving`r the slide bar free to rey spond to a succeeding blank, and means conrespond trolled by the passage-of a blank through the machine for actuating` said lock.

10. A machine of the class described coinprising grade detecting mechanism vfor detecting the grade of successivek blanks IofV stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivfingthe blanks into dit- ,i ferent positions corresponding to their. re-

spective grades, setting mechanism including a transverse slide bar responsiveto thede tecting mechanism, distributor actuating mechanism connecting theslide bar and the distributor for adjusting the distributor in j* inlluence of said centralizing spring, and t thereafter to lock theV distributor to permit j the detecting and setting mechanisms to revspond'to a succeeding blank Without disturbing the distributor before the first blank has left the distributor. Y

Signed by me at Manchester,Nevv `Hampshire, this 28th day of March, 1924.

` LEANDER A. ooesvvitLL. 

